Let's spend $178 million to save $60,000

[MrFun]

I never thought Teabaggers were so ****in' stupid when it comes to math.

[Ben Kenobi]

I think we should set aside a 'dope stipend', to ensure that the folks on welfare have access to quality dope instead of having to buy it from some shady dealer with who knows what mixed in. Just imagine the savings on hospitalization from crappy dope!

[MrFun]

The point of the OP, Benny, is that the drug testing was suppose to save the state, and tax payers money, by eliminating drug users from the welfare system. This mandated drug testing fails on both counts: there is only two percent of welfare recipients who are found to be abusing drugs, and the testing has cost $176 million, far outstripping the $60,000 in "savings."

[Ben Kenobi]

the testing has cost $176 million, far outstripping the $60,000 in "savings."

So Florida spends 3 million a year on welfare? Somehow I don't think that's right. If ten percent of Floridans are on welfare, that's 1.7 million floridans. If they receive a stipend of 20k a year, that would mean 34 billion dollars a year that Florida spends on welfare. 2 percent of that is 680 million dollars.

So Florida spent 176 million to save 680 million a year.

Edit, Florida spends 11.4 billion a year on welfare. Cutting 2 percent off that number is 228 million. So the state actually still comes out ahead.

[The Mad Monk]

Cool! Can we do Obama's "green" energy program next?

[The Mad Monk]

From July through October in Florida — the four months when testing took place before Judge Scriven’s order — 2.6 percent of the state’s cash assistance applicants failed the drug test, or 108 of 4,086, according to the figures from the state obtained by the group. The most common reason was marijuana use. An additional 40 people canceled the tests without taking them.

Because the Florida law requires that applicants who pass the test be reimbursed for the cost, an average of $30, the cost to the state was $118,140. This is more than would have been paid out in benefits to the people who failed the test, Mr. Newton said.

As a result, the testing cost the government an extra $45,780, he said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/18/us/no-savings-found-in-florida-welfare-drug-tests.html

Okay, where the hell did you get $178 million?

[DinoDoc]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/18/us...rug-tests.html

Okay, where the hell did you get $178 million?

He saw it on his Facebook wall.

[The Mad Monk]

He really needs to sandblast that graffiti. It's embarrassing.

[Dinner]

I doubt the costs are that high but, yeah, there is no doubt that the cost to benefit analysis would show it's a net money loser. Kicking poor people when they're down is always a vote getter with the Republican base though so it's no wonder they push it. It's a great issue to grandstand on with sound bites even if financially it doesn't make sense.

The next one they'll do this with is food stamps fraud which even Republican estimates effects only 1% of all food stamps cases meanwhile about double that number (~2%) of all members of the House of Representatives typically get into some form of legal problem but I won't hold my breath about politicians addressing that issue.

[Wiglaf]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]172285[/ATTACH]

I never thought Teabaggers were so ****in' stupid when it comes to math.

You're the dumb *** who actually thought it cost $178 million to drug test a few thousand hobos. ******.

Even assuming the government lost out on this deal (meaning there was no deterrent effect, which seems hard to account for), the fact they only lost $40,000 or so made this a worthwhile experiment and will help other states considering similar measures.

So, again, you are a total ******, and not just because you insist on using douchy terms like teabaggers.

[MrFun]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/18/us...rug-tests.html

Okay, where the hell did you get $178 million?

It was from Addicting Info Photos.

[MrFun]

So, again, you are a total ******, and not just because you insist on using douchy terms like teabaggers.

I'm not politically correct, so I use the term "Teabaggers."

[Wiglaf]

Watch out, we've got ourselves a badass over here.

[The Mad Monk]

It was from Addicting Info Photos.

You need to kick that habit.

[giblets]

I think we should set aside a 'dope stipend', to ensure that the folks on welfare have access to quality dope instead of having to buy it from some shady dealer with who knows what mixed in. Just imagine the savings on hospitalization from crappy dope!

Let's legalize dope instead of having the government do unnecessary interventions in medicine.